From Book to Script to Claymation

My class of 4th graders with learning differences, as we say, loves doing this. Along the way, they learn the importance of time management, proper planning, and patience with each other.

The most difficult part of the process was deciding on the proper book. The girls wanted puppies and horses, while the boys wanted things that blew up. Finally they settled on the Berenstain Bears "Report Card Trouble".

After settling on a book, a script had to be written. Since I was the producer and editor, I required correct spelling and organization that everyone could understand.

Next came storybook sketches and character development. They soon realized building claymation models of everyone in the book was a huge job, so they settled on the main characters of Papa, Mama, Brother Bear, Sister, and Sister's friend Sally. Set designs would fill in the other characters.

Of course everyone wanted to start with the claymation models. However, after they learned the clay could dry out before the sets were completely built, they resisted the temptation and quickly began on the set building.

They built a bus, a school room. a gym and used "pop" clouds with drawing to show Brother Bear's excellence in PE, The Bear's living room, and the Bear's Kitchen.

Filming using small movements, sound recorded in an isolation booth and overlaid on the finished the finished movie created a creative piece. In addition, they created all title slides for the movie and helped with the final editing.

The clay models lasted though the entire process. Afterwards, they were baked and allowed to completely harden. Each participant went home with a model, a signed script, and copy of the movie. The movie was shown on Grandparents' Day and afterwards we had cast party with milk and cookies.

IT Was A HUGE Success and one the entire school still talks about.